Dollar General killing: 'He was a big boy that night. He should be tried as a big boy.'

Criminal homicides reached new highs for the past three years in Indianapolis and are on pace to set a new record in 2018. Here's what is being done about the problem.
Dwight Adams, dwight.adams@indystar.com

In Indiana, a juvenile as young as 12 can be tried as an adult on a murder charge. Prosecutors must first ask a juvenile court judge to waive the case into the adult court. The judge will hold a hearing, with prosecutors and defense lawyers presenting evidence, before making a decision.

Prosecutor Terry Curry's office declined to comment on whether it intends to seek a waiver to send the boy's case to adult court. IndyStar is not naming the suspect because he has not been charged as an adult.

Manning said she was inside the Dollar General store when the two suspects entered and demanded money. Raley, she said, was outside in a vehicle with Manning's 9-year-old daughter.

The 14-year-old suspect ran to the front door and opened it just as Raley was walking in, according to prosecutors.

Store surveillance video shows Raley "backing up away from (the boy) and (the boy) turn and extend his arm and fire one shot at Raley striking him in his left side chest area," Cumberland Police Department Commander Suzanne C. Woodland wrote in a probable cause affidavit filed in Sheppard's case.

Manning said she was hiding when Raley entered the store. She popped her head up in time to see the suspect shoot.